Opinion: Small or Big Fish

Hi,

Trying to decide on a suite on a good cruise (e.g., Oceania/HAL) or a
lower cabin on a higher-rated cruise (Seabourn/Silversea). Thoughts?
Is the cabin itself as important as the itinerary?

Thank you~

"RD" <rouletter@> wrote in message
news:1166055648.965258.312620@t46g2000cwa. o...
> Hi,
>
> Trying to decide on a suite on a good cruise (e.g., Oceania/HAL) or a
> lower cabin on a higher-rated cruise (Seabourn/Silversea). Thoughts?
> Is the cabin itself as important as the itinerary?
>
> Thank you~

I would choose a nice cabin on Oceania or HAL, myself.
Yes, to me the cabin is important...We enjoy a balcony...at the very least
an outside view...depending on the itinerary and which cruise line or ship
we are taking. Don't let anyone influence you by saying that you are only
in your cabin to sleep, shower and dress. We enjoy the balcony on leisurely
sea days and also enjoy eating breakfast out there...We also like sitting or
lying around reading, if there are numerous sea days. Having friends in for
a drink is nice if you have a spacious cabin that also has a sofa bed for
additional seating... Unless you are of a personality that has to be
constantly on the go, not wanting to relax in your cabin, I'd take that into
consideration.
JMHO,

--Jean

This is a great group -- thanks to everyone for the continuing advice!

JP wrote:
> "RD" <rouletter@> wrote in message
> news:1166055648.965258.312620@t46g2000cwa. o...
> > Hi,
> >
> > Trying to decide on a suite on a good cruise (e.g., Oceania/HAL) or a
> > lower cabin on a higher-rated cruise (Seabourn/Silversea). Thoughts?
> > Is the cabin itself as important as the itinerary?
> >
> > Thank you~
>
> The itenerary is always the most important aspect of a cruise.

Not always...at least for me. Most of my cruising has been in the
Caribbean, and truthfully, I really don't care which islands or ports
the ship visits. As long as the weather's hot, the water's turquoise
blue and warm, any of the itineraries work for me. And, since there are
only a limited number of ports open to the big cruise ships, you tend
to do a lot of repeating of ports, once you've got a few cruises under
your belt. Makes the itinerary even LESS important.

When/if I start looking at different cruise destinations, then the
itinerary will become more of a deciding factor. But, for a quick 7-day
Caribbean sailing - the ship is the most important part of the decision
making process for me.

>Forget the
> cabin. You only use it to shower, cleanup and recharge yor batteries. Who
> cares if it has a view or is close to the casino.

I think that the nicer the cabin you book, the more time you'll end up
spending in it - just because it's a nicer place to be. I wouldn't
spend a lot of time in an inside or oceanview cabin. You're
right...those are for sleeping, showering, recharging. But, when you
start to add the amenities of a nicer cabin, it becomes a space in
which you might want to spend some more time.

> Alway pick a cruise based on the stops that will be made.

I try not to use qualfiers like "always" and "never" because there are
always exceptions, especially in something as subjective as choosing a
cruise.

Lee

>
> JP

"JP" <john5240@> wrote in message news:O2dgh.4586$_55.2831@trndny09...
> "LeeNY" <leeschw@campmor.com> wrote in message
> news:1166101039.048957.3440@n67g2000cwd. ps.com...
>>
>> JP wrote:
>> > "RD" <rouletter@> wrote in message
>> > news:1166055648.965258.312620@t46g2000cwa. o...
>> > > Hi,
>> > >
>> > > Trying to decide on a suite on a good cruise (e.g., Oceania/HAL) or a
>> > > lower cabin on a higher-rated cruise (Seabourn/Silversea). Thoughts?
>> > > Is the cabin itself as important as the itinerary?
>> > >
>> > > Thank you~
>> >
>> > The itenerary is always the most important aspect of a cruise.
>>
>> Not always...at least for me. Most of my cruising has been in the
>> Caribbean, and truthfully, I really don't care which islands or ports
>> the ship visits. As long as the weather's hot, the water's turquoise
>> blue and warm, any of the itineraries work for me. And, since there are
>> only a limited number of ports open to the big cruise ships, you tend
>> to do a lot of repeating of ports, once you've got a few cruises under
>> your belt. Makes the itinerary even LESS important.
>>
>> When/if I start looking at different cruise destinations, then the
>> itinerary will become more of a deciding factor. But, for a quick 7-day
>> Caribbean sailing - the ship is the most important part of the decision
>> making process for me.
>>
>> >Forget the
>> > cabin. You only use it to shower, cleanup and recharge yor batteries.
> Who
>> > cares if it has a view or is close to the casino.
>>
>> I think that the nicer the cabin you book, the more time you'll end up
>> spending in it - just because it's a nicer place to be. I wouldn't
>> spend a lot of time in an inside or oceanview cabin. You're
>> right...those are for sleeping, showering, recharging. But, when you
>> start to add the amenities of a nicer cabin, it becomes a space in
>> which you might want to spend some more time.
>>
>> > Alway pick a cruise based on the stops that will be made.
>>
>> I try not to use qualfiers like "always" and "never" because there are
>> always exceptions, especially in something as subjective as choosing a
>> cruise.
>>
>> Lee
>>
>> >
>> > JP
> Yes, I agree a little bit. With all of the cruises under my belt, it does
> get boring to hit the same ports too often. Back in the 80"s, I used to stop
> at Haiti so often, the beggers were on the lookout for me, because I
> wouldn't buy their junk. It was like they knew I was going to arrive and had
> a contract out on me. It was scary.
>
> JP
>
>
> Looks like you are becoming a little jaded with cruising. Maybe it's
time to find another area of interest? :>)
>
>

REPLIED INLINE:
"LeeNY" <leeschw@campmor.com> wrote in message
news:1166101039.048957.3440@n67g2000cwd. ps.com...
>
> Not always...at least for me. Most of my cruising has been in the
> Caribbean, and truthfully, I really don't care which islands or ports
> the ship visits. As long as the weather's hot, the water's turquoise
> blue and warm, any of the itineraries work for me. And, since there are
> only a limited number of ports open to the big cruise ships, you tend
> to do a lot of repeating of ports, once you've got a few cruises under
> your belt. Makes the itinerary even LESS important.

This is true, Lee, after so many times in the Caribbean, you end up seeing
so many of the ports over and over..That is why we feel Alaska, Tahiti,
Baltic and the Mediterranean would be a nice break..We are taking our first
transatlantic in April and with so many days at sea, the cabin is very
important. Don't know how much use our balcony will be (due to weather) but
at least the cabin is larger and we will no doubt spend more time there than
on a more port intensive cruise. After 35 cruises, the ship is more
important to me than the itinerary.


> I think that the nicer the cabin you book, the more time you'll end up
> spending in it - just because it's a nicer place to be. I wouldn't
> spend a lot of time in an inside or oceanview cabin. You're
> right...those are for sleeping, showering, recharging. But, when you
> start to add the amenities of a nicer cabin, it becomes a space in
> which you might want to spend some more time.


Exactly...if you are in an inside or small cramped cabin, you don't enjoy
spending any more time than you have to in it. Some people like insides but
I tend to be claustrophobic and need at least a window. It's a matter of
personal preference.



> I try not to use qualfiers like "always" and "never" because there are
> always exceptions, especially in something as subjective as choosing a
> cruise.


How right you are...different reasons make one change their mind, so it is
never *always* or *never*!

--Jean


>
> Lee
>
>>
>> JP
>

RD wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Trying to decide on a suite on a good cruise (e.g., Oceania/HAL) or a
> lower cabin on a higher-rated cruise (Seabourn/Silversea). Thoughts?
> Is the cabin itself as important as the itinerary?
>
> Thank you~


We lucked into getting an owners suite on the Norwegian Crown to
Bermuda last Sept. ...
Big fish in a small pond treated like royalty ... butler ... concierge
.... specail parties ...The cabin was larger than our first apartment
and really felt like home ... living area ... dining area ... desk area
.... bar area ...sleeping area ... walk in closet and a huge huge
balcony ... We took this for Bermuda ..the itinerary - all three
Bermuda ports ... but that stateroom was beyond description ...

That said ... Seabourn and Silversea have a lot going for even their
lowest priced cabins ...
All are treaed like royalty as I've been told ...

I do not feel that you can not put the Dining Room experience on a
fixed-/multi-seating vessel (e.g., HAL, Crystal) on a par with an open
seating all-inclusive vessel (e.g., Silversea, Seabourn).

Also, basically the overall service on a vessel improves as the
crew-to-passenger ratio approaches 1:1 (e.g., Silversea, Seabourn).

Naturally, the larger the vessel the more amenities that can be offered
[and, if that matters, then there still are upscale luxury options, such
as Regent and Oceania, that carry more passengers while retaining open
seating, etc.].

To me, Silversea is in a league by itself [albeit Seabourn does win many
awards], Silversea has great accommodations with real balconies and,
with almost twice as many passengers per vessel than Seabourn, can offer
more amenities while still retaining an almost individual feeling. Note
Seabourn has just ordered new vessels similar to Silversea in passenger
size and cabin amenities.

Crystal may be the best of the two assigned-seating vessels, but there's
the rub as I believe who really wants to be told when to eat and who to
eat with [I do not find that to be at all luxurious]. Interestingly, for
that reason, I would prefer to sail NCL Freestyle anytime over, to me,
pretentious Crystal.

"gwm215 gwm215" <gwm215@> wrote in message news:529-45824C65-394@storefull-3235.bay....
>I do not feel that you can not put the Dining Room experience on a
> fixed-/multi-seating vessel (e.g., HAL, Crystal) on a par with an open
> seating all-inclusive vessel (e.g., Silversea, Seabourn).
>
> Also, basically the overall service on a vessel improves as the
> crew-to-passenger ratio approaches 1:1 (e.g., Silversea, Seabourn).
>
> Naturally, the larger the vessel the more amenities that can be offered
> [and, if that matters, then there still are upscale luxury options, such
> as Regent and Oceania, that carry more passengers while retaining open
> seating, etc.].
>
> To me, Silversea is in a league by itself [albeit Seabourn does win many
> awards], Silversea has great accommodations with real balconies and,
> with almost twice as many passengers per vessel than Seabourn, can offer
> more amenities while still retaining an almost individual feeling. Note
> Seabourn has just ordered new vessels similar to Silversea in passenger
> size and cabin amenities.
>
> Crystal may be the best of the two assigned-seating vessels, but there's
> the rub as I believe who really wants to be told when to eat and who to
> eat with [I do not find that to be at all luxurious]. Interestingly, for
> that reason, I would prefer to sail NCL Freestyle anytime over, to me,
> pretentious Crystal.
>


>>Methinks thou doth protest too much. Many, many folks would prefer the
discipline of knowing that they were going to a have place to eat when
they were hungry. (AND, it doesn't have to be luxurious)

LeeNY wrote:
>
> I think that the nicer the cabin you book, the more time you'll end up
> spending in it - just because it's a nicer place to be. I wouldn't
> spend a lot of time in an inside or oceanview cabin. You're
> right...those are for sleeping, showering, recharging. But, when you
> start to add the amenities of a nicer cabin, it becomes a space in
> which you might want to spend some more time.

Yes, I agree! Sometimes a retreat is nice! I always shop for a good
cabin deal.